Reinventing Democracy

Democracy is everywhere praised and aspired to as a political system. Yet, in established democracies people feel dissatisfied with existing institutions and the levels of accountability they offer. This book explores the ways in which democracy in national states, local government and social institutions can be renewed and extended. The contributors - who range from practising politicians to academics, from journalists to political activists - draw upon the British experience to address urgent issues which confront all modern democracies. These issues include: the rise of the quango state; the displacement of democratic control by managerial and accounting techniques; the need to renew local government; the economic limits to democracy; democratizing companies and social institutions; and the relationship between national democracy and the governance of the European Union. The book concludes with a debate about the fundamental character of contemporary democracy. It should be of interest to all those concerned with the future of democracy.